Just now, CarefreeSimmo_ said:

It'd be a deal in principle for January IMHO, Easily worked into the Costa deal. They value him at 45M so I don't see why Costa + 15M wouldn't seal it.

ATM have already signed his replacement in Vitolo, who again won't sign until January.

Easy enough to make space for a player of that talent in this squad... 

I only disagree with the bolded part.

We are filled to the brim with our quota of non-HG players. Here is where players like Chalobah, AKe would have been so useful.

If we are selling matic I dont think we can go into the season with just Cesc, Kante and Bakayoko as the CM options. NAT would have been a great option.

I think Ake could have done as good a job for the 4th/5th CB, LWB back up and/or DM back up. Would have been a great squad player all around.

Right now, i just dont see it being "easy" to make space. Infact I am hoping Musonda gets a chance to prove himself and we dont have to buy carrasco.

I rate Carrasco but as stated above, we have 13 non-HG already. Unless Conte wants to bring only 2 strikers for CL and we'll probably give up on Sandro for now

Kun will never happen City will not let him go to a rival, why not get Sanchez instead.

52 minutes ago, Brutos said:

Kun will never happen City will not let him go to a rival, why not get Sanchez instead.

Getting Aguero from City is impossible, but getting Sanchez from Arsenal is possible?

City wouldn't dare sell players to United but apart from that I don't think they mind too much. 

4 hours ago, didierforever said:

I only disagree with the bolded part.

We are filled to the brim with our quota of non-HG players. Here is where players like Chalobah, AKe would have been so useful.

If we are selling matic I dont think we can go into the season with just Cesc, Kante and Bakayoko as the CM options. NAT would have been a great option.

I think Ake could have done as good a job for the 4th/5th CB, LWB back up and/or DM back up. Would have been a great squad player all around.

Right now, i just dont see it being "easy" to make space. Infact I am hoping Musonda gets a chance to prove himself and we dont have to buy carrasco.

Thats the thing though, Nat didnt want to be a squad player or the 4th/5th CB. He wanted ro start. Thats not somethibg we could give him

Not sure what we were thinking selling Ake and Chalobah who were good HG players to have in the squad. Now its gonna be made more difficult to fill the quota. 

They did want to start more games I suppose but that was simply not possible at the time, but I would have still much rather got rid of more fringe players that were out on loan that aren't HG instead of these 2. 

12 hours ago, Frawdulant said:

The thing that's stands out to me with the whole Costa scenario is that he's a world class star who is available, literally to anyone for six months as long as you pay his wages. After that he's off to Athletico. Those 6 months he's going to be playing in what will be a World Cup year. So it's really in his interests to be at top form. And despite all of this, no f***er wants him.

That may be or perhaps someone wants him but is prepared to take the risk of missing out on Diego in exchange for the hope of getting him for no more than a share of his wages when Chelsea get desperate to off load him.

Edited July 17, 20179 yr by OhForAGreavsie

13 hours ago, Frawdulant said:

The thing that's stands out to me with the whole Costa scenario is that he's a world class star who is available, literally to anyone for six months as long as you pay his wages. After that he's off to Athletico. Those 6 months he's going to be playing in what will be a World Cup year. So it's really in his interests to be at top form. And despite all of this, no f***er wants him.

It's not a bad deal if it's a midtable club with a set style of play suited to Costa but it's difficult to start half a season with a new striker and then just when the team has sync with the new striker, the striker goes away to Atleti. Only a desperate club would want him and sadly we're the only one desperate for a new striker

Carrasco-rumours have surfaced. The only area in our squad that really don't need strenghtening: left wing.

Doesn't Carrasco have a buy out clause around 100mil ? He can play the Alonso role, but his games with Belgium show his lack of defensive skills.

12 minutes ago, Geert The Flyer said:

Doesn't Carrasco have a buy out clause around 100mil ? He can play the Alonso role, but his games with Belgium show his lack of defensive skills.

He's a winger-inside forward type of player. Wasted as a wingback

16 minutes ago, Deino said:

He's a winger-inside forward type of player. Wasted as a wingback

 

Carrasco > Chelsea?
Diego > Atletico?
Hazard > Real Madrid?
Morata > Chelsea?

2 hours ago, the special one said:

 

Carrasco > Chelsea?
Diego > Atletico?
Hazard > Real Madrid?
Morata > Chelsea?

Carrasco can replace Pedro tho. He plays almost the same as Pedro and can interchange with Hazard on any wing. Had we need just 1 signing this season and a RF at that, I'd hope the club go hard at him but we just have too many holes to plug and time is running out

25 minutes ago, Deino said:

Carrasco can replace Pedro tho. He plays almost the same as Pedro and can interchange with Hazard on any wing. Had we need just 1 signing this season and a RF at that, I'd hope the club go hard at him but we just have too many holes to plug and time is running out

1

I see Carrasco more as a replacement for Hazard if i'm honest - I do agree Carrasco can interchange on the wing, but we already have Willian (who I rate higher than some on here) and Pedro (who is criminally underrated if last season's Opta stats are anything to go by) for right wing/inside forward. For me if Hazard is going to leave eventually anyway I'd prefer if we get Carrasco/Morata in return.

Edited July 17, 20179 yr by the special one

34 minutes ago, the special one said:

I see Carrasco more as a replacement for Hazard if i'm honest - I do agree Carrasco can interchange on the wing, but we already have Willian (who I rate higher than some on here) and Pedro (who is criminally underrated if last season's Opta stats are anything to go by) for right wing/inside forward. For me if Hazard is going to leave eventually anyway I'd prefer if we get Carrasco/Morata in return.

I have no doubt that Carrasco is the successor/substitue of/for Hazard in the national team. But it would be wrong to relegate someone like Carrasco to the bench. He needs playing time.

Everything else I agree with

If only we had a young Belgium home grown player with amazing potential.

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2017/7/17/15981228/chelsea-not-willing-to-spend-more-than-70-on-a-new-striker#comments

Starting to think we won't get any of the big money strikers we have been linked with. I appreciate the club trying not to be ripped off, but it's frustrating to see us sell players for big money, and then not be willing to spend that little bit extra to get a deal done in time for preseason. 

I hope there is no pressure on conte at board room level, to win trophies this season, as I don't think we have given him much prep time to bring the squad together. 

It's going to be very difficult to start the season well imo.

Milan buying a new team but at the other end of the spectrum you have Chelsea loaning/selling a team

We've seen this time and time again.

 

 

When will we learn?

Scored 24 in 32 appearances last season, not bad. 

He's so sh*t under pressure no thanks lol

If only we had a young Belgium home grown player with amazing potential.

You'd be confident going into the season with rom?

4 minutes ago, LengmanJedi said:

You'd be confident going into the season with rom?

I was referencing Musonda. 

I was referencing Musonda. 

My apologies, wasn't reading the thread properly.

We have capped our spending in a world where there is no salary cap...

 

If that's the business model the club is deciding to take by tightening it's belt and not spending as much including ridiculous sums I'm very happy as a fan. There was once a time I never dreamt of winning the league title talk less of competing constantly at the top. Was just happy to see the boys play week in week out. The only thing is they should at least show a clear plan if that's youth development for first team duties or if that's the youth development for side income. Or if its a case of signing 2nd tier players and staying competitive by running a tight management ship I'm happy as well. Just want clarity instead of hearing we may be after star A or star B.....and nothing comes to fruition. And we hear nothing of such from the club itself just media outlets,traditional cum social.